Disposable product applicator and dispensing package therefor

ABSTRACT

A hand-held, generally T-shaped disposable product applicator and a dispensing package therefor. The applicator comprises a resilient applicator pad portion and an upstanding finger grip portion. The applicator pad portion is normally substantially planar with a top surface and a bottom product applying surface coated or impregnated with the product to be dispensed. The upstanding finger grip portion is normally substantially planar with its sides providing finger grip surfaces. The finger grip portion is substantially normal to and extends transversely across the top surface of the applicator pad portion, bisecting the applicator pad portion into two substantially equal flaps. The applicator pad portion is foldable along its juncture with the finger grip portion with its bottom product applying surface folded upon itself. The finger grip portion is of such thickness that when the applicator pad portion is in its folded condition each half of the applicator pad portion top surface is substantially coplanar with the adjacent finger grip portion side. The dispensing package is adapted to receive a stack of applicators each with its applicator pad portion in folded condition. The package has a dispensing opening through which the handle portion of the end-most applicator of the stack is exposed for removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a disposable product applicator and adispensing package therefor, and more particularly to a hand-held,generally T-shaped disposable product applicator preloaded with ameasured quantity of product and a package adapted to contain a stack ofthe applicators in folded condition and to dispense them one at a time.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior art workers have developed various types of resilient applicators,both reusable and disposable in nature. Such applicators have been usedto apply to a surface commodities in the form of creams, pastes, gels,liquids, powders and the like. For example, such applicators have beenused to apply topical preparations to the skin such as cosmeticproducts, medicaments and the like. Prior art applicators have been usedwith a separate product supply or have been impregnated or coated with ameasured quantity of product.

By way of example, Graves U.S. Pat. No. 2,932,841 dated Apr. 19, 1960discloses a substantially rectangular pad of paper or the like furnishedwith a spot of semi-plastic shoe polish, the pad being folded with thespot of shoe polish on the inside. Connolly U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,166dated Sept. 4, 1956 discloses a pad of sponge rubber material which isslit inwardly of an edge portion to define a pair of flaps, withdentrifice contained between the flaps. Hume U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,996dated Oct. 11, 1955 discloses a powder puff comprising a sheet ofresilient foam material impregnated with facial powder. The sheet offoam material is folded upon itself with a lip blotter elementtherebetween and providing a handle projecting through the sheet of foammaterial.

Applicators having a generally T-shaped configuration are, per se, knownin the art. By way of example, Crawford U.S. Pat. No. 2,964,772 datedDec. 20, 1960 discloses an applicator comprising a resilient disc with asmall upstanding handle element. Pad-like applicators with handleportions foldable to an upright position are taught in Anderson et al.U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,410 dated May 5, 1964 and Gilchrist U.S. Pat. No.Re. 26,385 dated May 7, 1968. Perkovich U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,387 datedJuly 16, 1963 and Perkovich et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,915 dated Sept.24, 1963 teach generally T-shaped scouring pads.

Prior art workers have devised various dispensing packages for stackedarticles of the type wherein the articles are biased toward one end ofthe package and means are provided for sequentially ejecting thearticles from the package or permitting sequential manual removal of thearticles therefrom. By way of example, Beardsley U.S. Pat. No. 977,583dated Dec. 6, 1910 discloses a spring loaded package for a stack ofpills or tablets having a sliding end cap for sequentially ejectingtablets contained therein. Gervias U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,951 dated Oct. 3,1967 discloses a spring loaded package for a stack of pills or tabletswherein a feeding finger sequentially ejects the pills or tabletsoutwardly through a fenistration in the side of the package. StewartU.S. Pat. No. 3,393,831 dated July 23, 1968 discloses a dispenser for astack of razor blades wherein the razor blades are sequentially ejectedby means of a sliding follower extending through a slot in the packagedside wall. Seghezzi U.S. Pat. No. 3,588,007 dated Jan. 26, 1971discloses a dispensing package for a stack of tablet-like articleshaving a pair of cut out portions adjacent the ends of the stack so thatthe operator's fingers may be utilized to sequentially slide the tabletsfrom the stack. Danow U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,207 dated May 11, 1971discloses a dispenser for a stack of bread slices wherein the top-mostslice of bread in the stack is surrounded on three sides by a pushermember which, in turn, engages a spring loaded door in the packaged sidewall so that the top-most slice may be ejected without being pushedagainst the spring loaded door. Finally, Hinterreiter U.S. Pat. No.3,565,284 dated Feb. 23, 1971 teaches a pocket container for tablets orthe like having a lever-like ejector for the top-most tablet pivotallyaffixed to the container cap.

The present invention provides a hand-held, T-shaped disposable productapplicator far simpler in construction than those known hitherto. Asconsequence, they can be more easily and economically produced. The padportion of the applicator of the present invention is capable of beingfolded upon itself and in folded condition the applicator is flat and ofsubstantially uniform thickness so that it may readily be stacked in adispensing container. When removed from the container, the pad portionof each applicator will automatically unfold and assume aproduct-applying configuration. When the applicator pad portion is inits folded condition, the product applying surface of the applicator isfolded upon itself and the product coated on or impregnated in theapplying surface of the applicator will be protected from contamination.The users hands are also protected from contact with the applicatorsurface.

The container of the present invention is adapted to receive a stack ofthe applicators in folded condition and enables a number of applicatorsto be compactly stored and readily dispensed. Each applicator isdispensed with its finger grip portion foremost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The hand-held, generally T-shaped disposable product applicator of thepresent invention comprises a resilient applicator pad portion and anupstanding finger grip portion. The applicator pad portion is normallysubstantially planar and has a bottom product-applying surface coated orimpregnated with the product to be dispensed. The pad portion has a topsurface from which the finger grip portion (normally substantiallyplanar) extends upwardly. The finger grip portion extends transverselyacross the upper surface of the pad portion and bisects the pad portioninto two substantially equal flaps.

The pad portion of the applicator is foldable along its juncture withthe finger grip portion with the product applying surface being foldedupon itself. When in its folded condition, the pad portion of theapplicator is of substantially the same thickness as the finger gripportion so that the applicator achieves a substantially flat, stackableconfiguration.

The package of the present invention is adapted to receive a stack ofapplicators. The package is closed at one end and is provided at or nearthe other end with an opening from which the applicators may bewithdrawn one at a time. Means are provided within the package toadvance the stack of applicators as each applicator is removed from thecontainer and to maintain the applicators within the stack in foldedcondition. The package may be provided with mechanical means to assistin the one-at-a-time dispensing of the applicators and may be providedwith an over cap to close the dispensing opening when an applicator isnot being dispensed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the applicator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the applicator ofFIG. 1 in position for use.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the applicator of FIG. 1 withits pad portion in folded condition.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view, partly in cross section illustrating thepackage of the present invention and an over cap therefor.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 6--6 of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, similar to FIG. 4and illustrating the dispensing of an applicator from the package.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the package of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the package ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating the dispensing of anapplicator from the package of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The pad of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3wherein like parts have been given like index numerals. The applicatoris generally indicated at 1 and comprises a pad portion 2 and a fingergrip portion 3. The pad portion 2 is generally planar and may have anyappropriate peripheral configuration. For purposes of an exemplaryshowing, the pad portion 2 is illustrated as being generally disc-shapedwith a circular peripheral configuration. Pad portion 2 has a topsurface 4 and a bottom product-applying surface 5 (most clearly shown inFIG. 2).

Pad portion 2 and finger grip portion 3 may be of integral, one-piecemolded construction, or they may be separately fabricated and joinedtogether, as by means of an appropriate adhesive or the like.

Pad portion 2 is fabricated of a flexible, resilient polymeric foammaterial non-reactive with the product to be dispensed by theapplicator. Exemplary resilient materials include urethane foam,polyethylene foam and the like. While not required, when the finger gripportion 3 is a separate element affixed to the upper surface 4 of padportion 2, it is preferrably fabricated of the same material.

The product to be dispensed may take any appropriate form including aliquid, a cream, a gel, a paste, a powder or the like. The product isapplied to the surface 5 of pad portion 2 and, depending upon the natureof the product, may be coated onto surface 5 or impregnated into padportion 2. To this end, pad portion 2 may be of open pore foam materialsuch that the product may be impregnated therein, or it may be of closedfoam material so as to prevent penetration and migration of the producttherethrough. Alternatively, pad portion 2 (and finger grip portion 3,if desired) may be provided with barrier layer (fragmentarilyillustrated at 7 in FIG. 1) on either or both of its top surface 4 andside edge 6. The barrier layer may take any appropriate form includingan integrally formed skin or a barrier coating, a plastic film or thelike laminated or otherwise affixed to pad portion 2 to preventmigration of the product outwardly of the pad portion through its edge 6or top surface 4.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide product-applyingsurface 5 of pad portion 2 with means for increasing its texture, as isfragmentarily shown at 8 in FIG. 2. These means may include abrasivemeans, flocking, a layer of woven or knitted cloth, netting or the like.The texture-increasing means enables the product to be more forcefullyapplied, as by scrubbing action. Further, product-applying surface 5 ofpad portion 2 may be of a controlled pore structure to control the rateof deposition of a liquid product, for example, impregnated into thepores of the applicator pad.

As pointed out above, the finger grip portion 3 may be an integral,one-piece part of pad portion 2. For purposes of an exemplaryillustration, finger grip portion 3 is illustrated as being a separateelement affixed to the upper surface 4 of pad portion 2. The peripheralconfiguration of finger grip portion 3 does not constitute a limitationon the present invention. For purposes of an exemplary showing it isillustrated as being substantially semi-circular and of a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of disc-like pad portion 2.

Finger grip portion 3 provides two finger grip surfaces 9 and 10 (seeFIGS. 1 and 3). An exemplary manner of engagement of surfaces 9 and 10by the fingers of the user is shown in FIG. 2. Finger grip portion 3 issubstantially normal to pad portion 2 and extends diametricallythereacross, preferably bisecting pad portion 2 into two equal halves orflaps 2a and 2b. It is preferable that finger grip portion 3substantially bisect pad portion 2 irrespective of the peripheralconfiguration of pad portion 2.

As pointed out heretofor, pad portion 2 is resilient and normallyassumes and remains in the substantially planar configurationillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 when unconstrained. Nevertheless, thehalves 2a and 2b of pad portion 2 may be folded upon each other asillustrated in FIG. 3. Under these circumstances, applying surface 5 isfolded upon itself and is located between pad portion halves 2a and 2b.In the folded configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 the pad portion halvesare substantially coplanar with surfaces 9 and 10 of the finger gripportion 3 so that the applicator 1 assumes a flat, substantially planar,disc-like configuration of substantially uniform thickness. This willrender a series of applicators, when in folded condition, readilystackable.

To achieve the uniform thickness of the folded applicator, finger gripportion 3 is of a thickness approximately twice that of pad portion 2when in unfolded condition. When pad portion 2 and finger grip portion 3are separate pieces joined together, finger grip portion 3 may simply bemade of a thickness twice that of pad portion 2 or finger grip portion 3may be made of two plys appropriately joined together by adhesive or thelike, each ply being of substantially the same thickness as pad portion2. This is indicated by broken line 11 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 through 6 illustrate the package of the present invention. Thepackage is generally indicated at 12. The package comprises acylindrical or tubular wall 13 closed at its upper end by a circular topportion 14 and at its bottom end by a circular bottom portion 15. Forpurposes of an exemplary showing the package 12 is illustrated as beingcylindrical with an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameterof the folded disc-like applicator illustrated in FIG. 3. It will beunderstood by one skilled in the art that if the applicator, whenfolded, has a peripheral configuration other than circular, container 13may be provided with an accommodating cross sectional configuration.

Within package 13 there is disposed a stack of applicators in foldedcondition (as shown in FIG. 3). This stack is generally indicated at 16.Stack 16 is surmounted by a follower 17 and a long stroke spring 18. Oneend of spring 18 abuts top portion 14 of the container, while the otherend of the spring abuts follower 17. The spring and follower assemblyurge stack 16 downwardly and maintain the individual applicators of thestack in their folded condition.

Near bottom 15 of package 12 the cylindrical wall 13 is provided with aslot 19 of a width at least equal to the thickness of an applicator infolded condition as packaged and of a length to extend approximatelyhalf way around package wall 12 (see FIG. 6). Preferably, the width ofslot 12 is slightly more than the thickness of a folded applicator aspackaged but less than twice the thickness thereof.

Package 12 may be provided with hand-actuated means by which thelowermost applicator of stack 16 may be pushed partially outwardlythrough slot 19 so that the pad may be grasped by the user's fingers.Reference is made to FIG. 5 wherein like parts have been given likeindex numerals. Opposite slot 19, cylindrical wall 13 of container 12 isprovided with a perforation 20. The perforation 20 is surrounded by acylindrical boss 21 extending laterally from package wall 13 and havingan internal diameter slightly greater than perforation 20. A pusherelement generally indicated at 22 comprises an arcuate portion 23located within container 12 and being of such diameter as to normallylie adjacent the inside surface of package wall 13. Arcuate portion 23has a shaft portion 24 extending through perforation 20 and into boss21. The free end of shaft 24 is provided with a push button portion 25of a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of boss 21. Acompression spring 26 is captively mounted on shaft 24. One end ofspring 26 abuts package wall 13 within boss 21, while its other endabuts push button 25. It will be understood from FIG. 5 that spring 26will tend to urge the pusher assembly to the retracted positionillustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 (like parts having been given like indexnumerals in FIG. 6), it will be understood that the individualapplicators of stack 16 will be so oriented that as each applicator isdispensed through slot 19, its finger grip portion 3 will be presentedforemost to the user. To remove an applicator from the package, it isonly necessary to depress push button 25 against the action of spring26. This will result in the partial advancement of the finger gripportion of the lowermost applicator (generally indicated at 1) of stack16 through slot 19. As is shown in FIG. 6, the finger grip portion ofapplicator 1 may then be grasped by the user and the applicator may beremoved from package 12. Upon removal from package 12, the pad portionof applicator 1 will spring to its normal planar position as illustratedin FIG. 2.

Release of push button 25 will cause the pusher assembly to return tothe position illustrated in FIG. 5. The follower 17 spring 18 assemblywill advance stack 16 downwardly until the next lowermost applicator ofthe stack abuts package bottom 15. The package is then ready to have thedispensing operation performed again.

It will be undertood by one skilled in the art that the package of FIGS.4 through 6 may be provided with an overcap to close slot 19 when thepackage is not in use. This might help to enable the package to maintainthe stack of applicators fresh and free from contamination. Such anovercap is illustrated at 27 in FIG. 4.

The precise nature and configuration of overcap 27 does not constitute alimitation on the present invention. For purposes of an exemplaryshowing, the overcap is illustrated as having a circular bottom 28 and aperipheral upstanding flange 29. Peripheral flange 29 may be so sized asto frictionally engage the bottom portion of package 12. Other meanswell known in the art may be used to maintain overcap 27 in position onthe bottom portion of package 12. Upstanding flange 29 is shown having anotch 30 so sized as to accommodate the package boss 21.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the package of the presentinvention. The package of FIG. 7 differs from that of FIGS. 4 through 6only in that the slot and pusher assembly are located at the upper endof the package while the spring and follower assembly within the packageare located at the bottom thereof. With this reversal top-for-bottom ofthe parts kept in mind, like parts have been given like index numeralsfollowed by "a". With the exception that stack 16a will be advancedupwardly by follower 17a and spring 18a, the operation of the package ofFIG. 7 will otherwise be identical to that described with respect to thepackage of FIGS. 4 through 6. Package 12a may be provided with anovercap of any appropriate type, including one identical to overcap 27of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate yet another embodiment of the package of thepresent invention. Again, for purposes of an exemplary showing, thepackage is illustrated as accommodating a stack of folded applicators ofthe type illustrated in FIG. 3. To this end the package, generallyindicated at 31, has a cylindrical side wall 32 a circular bottom 33 anda substantially semi-circular top 34. It will be understood by oneskilled in the art that a package incorporating the same principles asthat of FIGS. 8 and 9 could be made to accommodate applicators having,when folded, a different peripheral configuration than the applicator ofFIG. 3.

Package 31 contains a follower 35 and a long stroke spring 36 betweenfollower 35 and bottom 33. A stack of applicators is generally indicatedat 37.

The package of FIGS. 8 and 9 is intended to enable sequential removal ofthe applicators therefrom by hand and without the aid of a mechanicalpusher or other device. This is accomplished by the provision of thesemi-circular top 34 and a cooperating notch 38 in package side 32whereby the finger grip portion of the top-most applicator (generallyindicated at 1) is sufficiently exposed to permit the finger gripportion to be engaged by the user and the top-most applicator to beremoved from package 31, as is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein like partshave been given like index numerals.

As in the case of slot 19 of the package of FIG. 4, notch 38 should beof such depth as to permit convenient removal of the top mostapplicator 1. Preferably, notch 38 is of a depth slightly greater thanthe thickness of an applicator with its pad portion folded and less thantwice the thickness thereof.

It will be understood that each applicator of stack 37 will be sooriented as to present its finger grip portion to the user. Asapplicators are removed from package 31, the follower 35 spring 36assembly will advance the stack 37 upwardly. Package 31 may be providedwith an overcap of any appropriate type. The overcap may, for example,be similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4 with the exception that nonotch (equivalent to notch 30 of FIG. 4) is required. It will further beunderstood that the package of FIGS. 8 and 9 may be inverted end-for-end(in much the same manner described with respect to the packages of FIGS.4 and 7) so that applicators may be dispensed from the bottom thereof.

All of the packages described above may be fabricated of any suitablematerial including metal, plastic, paper board or the like. If desired,all of the packages may be refillable and reusable. All of the packagesmay be provided with bracket means (not shown) for mounting on aappropriate surface such as a wall surface or the like.

Modifications may be made in the invention without departing from thespirit of it. For example, for increased product protection andparticularly in an embodiment of the applicator wherein the finger gripportion 3 is made up of two plies (see FIG. 1), the product may belocated in the finger grip portion 3 and forced to the pad portion 2 atthe time of use by squeezing finger grip portion surfaces 9 and 10. Insuch an embodiment, it would be desirable to provide means to assurethat the product migrates to pad portion 2 rather than through thefinger grip portion. For example, the surfaces 9 and 10 and the edges offinger grip portion 3 could have a barrier thereon of any of the typesdescribed above with respect to FIG. 1. On the other hand, the fingergrip portion 3 could be formed of a closed pore material or the productcould be located within its own rupturable container.

The applicators of the present invention may be packaged individually orin packages other than those described above. If provided with anenvelope-type package, for example, the package may be so sized as tomaintain the applicator in the folded condition illustrated in FIG. 3.Where the type of package used is not such that it will maintain theapplicator in folded position, flaps 2a and 2b of pad portion 2 may bemaintained in folded position by any type of appropriate sealing meanssuch as tape, hot melt, glue or the like.

In a package of the type described with respect to FIGS. 4 through 6 orin an inverted version of the package of FIGS. 8 and 9, thespring-follower assemblies may be eliminated and a weight substitutedtherefor to advance the stack and to maintain the applicators in foldedcondition. A spring loaded pivot, a deformable panel or other mechanicalmeans may be substituted for the pusher assembly of FIGS. 4 through 7.

While the applicators have been, for purposes of an exemplary showing,described as being made of foam, it will be understood by one skilled inthe art that other materials could be used so long as they arecompatable with the product to be dispensed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A hand-held, T-shapeddisposable product applicator comprising a resilient, integral,one-piece structure having an applicator pad portion and an upstandingfinger grip portion, said pad portion being normally substantiallyplanar with a top surface and a bottom product-applying surface, saidupstanding finger grip portion being normally substantially planar withopposite sides providing finger grip surfaces, said finger grip portionbeing normally substantially normal to and extending transversely acrosssaid top surface of said pad portion bisecting said pad portion into twosubstantially equal parts, said pad portion being foldable along itsjuncture with said finger grip portion with said bottom product applyingsurface folded upon itself, said finger grip portion being of athickness substantially twice the thickness of said pad portion wherebywhen said applicator pad portion is folded, said finger grip portion andsaid folded pad portion are substantially coplanar and of substantiallythe same thickness.
 2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said padportion is disc-shaped with a circular peripheral configuration, saidfinger grip portion being of semi-circular configuration with a diameterequal to the diameter of said pad portion, said finger grip portionextending diametrically of said top surface of said pad portion wherebywhen said pad portion is in said folded condition said applicator issubstantially flat, disc-like and of substantially uniform thickness. 3.The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad portion comprises acontrolled pore structure.
 4. The structure claimed in claim 1 includinga textured layer on said product-applying bottom surface of said padportion.
 5. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein at least saidapplicator pad portion is fabricated of a flexible resilient, polymericfoam material non-reactive with a product to be dispensed by saidapplicator.
 6. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein said finger gripportion is fabricated of said flexible, resilient, polymeric foammaterial.
 7. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein a product to beapplied by said applicator is coated on said bottom product-applyingsurface of said pad portion.
 8. The structure claimed in claim 7 whereinsaid pad portion at least of said applicator is fabricated of a flexibleresilient closed foam material.
 9. The structure claimed in claim 1wherein a product to be applied by said applicator is impregnated insaid pad portion.
 10. The structure claimed in claim 9 wherein said padportion at least of said applicator is fabricated of a flexible,resilient open foam material.
 11. The structure claimed in claim 9wherein said pad portion of said applicator has at least one peripheraledge, a barrier layer on at least one of said top surface and saidperipheral edge to prevent migration of said product therethrough. 12.The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said pad portion of saidapplicator has at least one peripheral edge, a barrier layer on at leastone of said top surface and said peripheral edge to prevent migration ofsaid product therethrough.
 13. The structure claimed in claim 12including a barrier layer covering said finger grip portion.